SOUTH HAVEN, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Holland is not the only community along the Lake Michigan shoreline grappling with the issue of short-term rentals.
During Monday night’s meeting, the South Haven City Council approved an ordinance amendment that increases the annual fee for registering short-term rentals from the current 20 dollars to 200 dollars, with first-time applicants asked to fork over 250 dollars. According to City Manager Brian Dissette, the hike is to handle increased costs of inspections, additional enforcement personnel during the summer months, and time spent by staff and attorneys for addressing short-term rental issues. Since the city instituted its short-term rental ordinance two years ago, 12 thousand, 500 dollars has been collected.
Another amendment Council approved on second reading would close a loophole that excluded attached condominium units from existing short-term rental regulations. South Haven leaders are also considering other restrictions involving newly constructed homes, increased occupancy after renovations, and capping the number of new short-term rentals in certain areas of the city, although no final decision on these matters have been made.
